The intake manifold is dry and secured by 10 bolts at 89 in. lbs. (known to require periodic tightening); the gaskets are normally re-usable. The passenger side can be tilted-up to gain access to the wiring harness for repair. Some manage to do starter replacements in under an hour and without disconnecting any fuel lines. This generation of Northstar has a flexible coupling between the intake and the throttle body that's known to develop splits in the bottom area over time, resulting in a vacuum leak, so I may replace this inexpensive part as preventative maintenance when I get around to it. The P0327 doesn't cause any driveability issues, and if an emission test was required, passing would be no problem since the knock sensor signal test is only triggered at over 3000 RPM.

Bill Mitchell took over what Harley Earl created, great styling and that sells product. Once they put Roger B. Smith in charge the bean counters took over, GM was basically selling appliances at that point. They bought an H. Ross Perot company and gave him a seat on the board, he told them they were going in the wrong direction so they got rid of him, GM lost Six billion dollars in 1990 ! and even the Corvette was considered to be dropped from the product line, Perot was incensed that they showed the CEO Bob Stemple the door and Perot said Stemple was a fine engineer.

Anyway I liked the last model Camaro before they dropped that, and the first new retro version was nice but I don't care for the latest version, all the new cars have angry nasty looking front ends. You can't touch these new front " bumpers " if you want to call them that without damaging them ! Huh, what is the point ?

I think the new cars are over styled but all look alike with the wind tunnel styling for MPG, too complicated and over engineered, but after all its a junk-away appliance now. The new cars are like a home entertainment center now: Nav screen, satellite radio, OnStar, bluetooth, remote start, memory seats, key fob or push button starting, video screens, electric sliding doors and folding seats, cameras, fly by wire throttle, magnetic suspensions, etc. what did I miss ? Wait another 10-20 years and it will get insane. Slowly they have made the new cars electronically controlled, the electric drive if the final frontier, maybe that's a good thing.

I agree, I've read the Europeans were very impressed with the styling, Bill Mitchell had a real handle and a flair for the styling in his era and GM had the drivetrains, it all came together. Delorean had some neat prototype cars but GM wouldn't let him build them, I think he got fed up and he walked away. Delorean could see GM was going in the wrong direction. He had his fun at Pontiac when he could do what he wanted to do - innovate. The profits, the share price and the bean counters took over at GM and that lead to their arrogant downfall but the UAW played a huge part in that too.

Mouse Trap Monday - It's a hobby for this guy, he has a problem with these barn critters. BTW in recent years my yard has been over run by moles, too funny, I've disturbed them a few times and they scurry away but you rarely see them, they live underground, my yard is all lumpy - LOL